What is this ‘SPECIAL REMISSION’ granted to Zuma?

Former president Jacob Zuma is already free after receiving ‘special remission’ from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) this morning, less than two hours after handing himself over at Estcourt prison. 

WHAT IS THIS SPECIAL REMISSION GRANTED TO JACOB ZUMA?

The Department of Correctional Services made the announcement on Friday morning.

HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE SPECIAL REMISSION:

• President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved the remission of non-violent offenders in South Africa. 
• This ‘special remissions’ process that is suddenly announced today is supposedly to release prison overcrowding, from which Zuma is beneficiary number 1.
• DCS says another 9 488 prisoners will be released under the process. 
• Lamola said the “special remission” granted to Zuma was part of a “parallel process” that was designed to address overcrowding in prisons. It was not a specific process designed for Zuma. 
• Offenders convicted of non-violent and nonsexual crimes will be eligible for up to 24 months of remission after completing the pre-release program and risk assessment and providing fingerprints and DNA samples for comparison to the South African Police Service database.

BREAKING NEWS- FORMER PRESIDENT WAS RELEASED

The National Joint Operation and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) on Thursday evening said it is ready for any eventuality ahead of a decision by the Department of Correctional Services Zuma’s return to prison.

The department’s acting national commissioner, Makgothi Thobakgale, will decide whether Zuma will return to jail to complete his 15-month sentence.

Meanwhile, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said Natjoints was ready.

SA National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesperson Simphiwe Ndlovu told the media he was unaware of any deployments ahead of the department’s decision.

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THE COURT DISMISSED THE APPLICATION TO APPEAL THE RULING THAT HE SHOULD RETURN TO PRISON

Last month, the Constitutional Court dismissed the Department of Correctional Services’ application for leave to appeal a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling that Zuma should return to prison.

The apex court found the department’s appeal “bears no reasonable prospect of success” and dismissed the application with costs.

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ZUMA WAS JAILED IN 2021 AFTER HE WAS SENTENCED TO 15 IN CONTEMPT OF COURT

Zuma was jailed in July 2021 after he was sentenced to 15 months for contempt of the Constitutional Court after he refused to obey an order to appear before the Zondo Commission.

His arrested sparked the deadly and violent riots in 2021.

However, hardly two months later, he was released on medical parole after then national commissioner of correctional services, Arthur Fraser, overruled the Medical Parole Advisory Board’s (MPAB) recommendation that the former president did not qualify.

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